Friday, December 19, 2003

Universal Living Wage - Building Economy with Higher Wages Richard R. Troxell Universal Living Wage Campaign   It is time to end homelessness. The problem can be broken down into three major categories: affordable housing, health care, and livable incomes.   Part of the livable income picture includes 42% of America's homeless population that the federal government says is working. The problem is that the federal minimum wage is $5.15 per hour. According to the last several U.S. Conference of Mayors' reports, $5.15 per hour or $10,300 per year, is an insufficient wage for anyone to get and keep housing throughout the United States. While some employers are paying $6.00, $7.00 or even $8.00 per hour, the wage is still not enough to get or keep most folks in housing. Over the past ten years, due to the Herculean efforts of local initiatives, the concept of a "living wage" has swept across America. However, even with 90 local campaigns, less than 100,000 workers are represented. Between monied opposition and unorganized rural America, this won't bring wage equity for all 10.1 million minimum wage workers for about 3000 years (if then). In 1938, the federal government answered this question by creating the Federal Minimum Wage. Our goal today is to fix it... to everyone's benefit.   The Universal Living Wage Formula is based on the moral premise that anyone working 40 hours should be able to afford basic rental housing. To this end, we have launched a national campaign that has garnered wide spread support across the United States. One aspect of the campaign has captured the imagination of unions (i.e. the Communication Workers of America International boasting 650,000 members) and businesses like American Apparel and HSR Construction. It is the idea that enactment will create a true Economic Stimulus Package as the local construction industry all across America responds to the millions of minimum wage workers' new ability to rent non-existing efficiency apartments. Voice4Change has endorsed this courageous initiative. We encourage you to visit the website www.UniversalLivingWage.org and have your local organization endorse online. For the rest of the story: http://www.voice4change.org/stories/showstory.asp?file=031219~tnulw.asp Forward this as widely as possible: http://www.voice4change.org/stories/send2friends.asp?id=031219~tnulw.asp 11:13:07 AM    comment []

DESIGNS ON DEMOCRACY: Communication for Liberation Improving the impact of graphic communications, public relations and guerilla marketing in the struggle for justice. March 26-28, 2004, University of California, Berkeley The Designs on Democracy conference is a forum for networking and dialogue on the strategic role of graphic communications, public relations and guerilla marketing in the service of organizing for Justice. The Designs on Democracy conference is for activists working in: Graphic Design Communications Public Relations Web and New Media Issue Advertising Guerilla Messaging and emerging and Student Activists in these fields What you can expect: Through three days of speakers, workshops, panels and networking, we will: Strategize about the role of activist design and communications in supporting critical struggles in the coming years. Build and strengthen long-term working relationships between individuals and firms specializing in activist design and communications across the United States. Share skills and experience to improve the services available to movement organizations. Create a forum where emerging designers with activist interests can connect with established firms for career, intern and volunteer opportunities. Provide an opportunity for campaigners and organizers to connect with design and communication activists. Topics covered include: Lessons from Madison Avenue: How the "Other Side" successfully Spins and sells their lies "Our Side": Strengths and Weaknesses Case Studies: Successful campaigns Nuts and Bolts: how we do the work Polling and Market Research New Tools in Design and Media for activism Communication strategies for building a grassroots base Messaging what we are for, not just what we are against High-quality services for low-budget groups Design and Communications for fundraising Can't Live on Passion Alone: Funding services for progressive organizations "Round-table" discussions by trade Power in Numbers: Building Alliances -and MUCH more to come. please contact us at: conference@designaction.org or call Gopal at 510 763 7078 x308. This conference is organized by The Design Action Collective http://www.designaction.org The Ruckus Society http://www.ruckus.org Change the Game http://www.changethegame.org 10:41:18 AM    comment []

Union of Radical Workers and  Writers Convenes first Bookstore Workers Organizing Forum SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 2004, 10:00AM-4:00PM COMMUNICATION WORKERS OF AMERICA, LOCAL 7200 UNION HALL, 3521 EAST LAKE STREET, MINNEAPOLIS The Union of Radical Workers and Writers [U.R.W.W.] is convening what is believed to be the first conference dedicated to organizing bookstore workers across the Americas on Saturday, January 17, 2004. Scheduled to coincide with the World Social Forum gathering in Mumbai, India http://www.wsfindia.org, the conference ("Resist Retail Nihilism: A Bookstore Workers Organizing Forum") will gather bookstore workers from the currently striking Borders #1 store in Ann Arbor, Michigan, unionized workers from the Borders' Calhoun Square store in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as well as independent, corporate, and used bookstore workers from Chicago, Milwaukee, and across the continent. Local and regional bookstore workers, retail workers, and the general public are invited to attend any or all of this day-long event. Agenda items include roundtable discussions on the history of bookstore organizing, how to organize your bookstore or retail workplace, how to build community coalitions, and much more. For more information, please visit the Union of Radical Workers and Writers website at http://www.urww.org, or contact URWW via email at manowak@stkate.edu 10:02:43 AM    comment []

Copyright 2004 Lincoln Cushing